2018 First Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 3
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend and congratulate the membership of the Shreveport Scottish Rite Valley upon
the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of its Shreveport
Scottish Rite Cathedral.
WHEREAS, the Shreveport Scottish Rite Valley of master masons and officers are
composed of four distinct sections that include the Shreveport Lodge of Perfection, the
Chapter of Rose Croix, the Council of Kadosh, and the Shreveport Consistory, which are
ordered as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction,
Orient of Louisiana, and Valley of Shreveport; and
WHEREAS, Scottish Rite and Freemasonry are woven into the rich history of the
founding fathers of the state of Louisiana and the nation, and the legacy of masonic temples
can be traced back, farther still, to its origins in sixteenth century Europe; and
WHEREAS, on March 6, 1910, a gathering of Scottish Rite masons petitioned for
the establishment of a new lodge that would become the L. C. Allen Lodge of Perfection;
these founding thirty-second degree masons were L. E. Thomas, V. L. McCarty, S. J. B.
Whited, A. T. Kahn, Marx M. Levy, A. W. Cheesman, E. R. Bernstein, H. H. Bain, H. I.
Hardy, J. J. Lyons, and P. B. Stedman; and
WHEREAS, soon the idea of a flagship masonic cathedral was conceived and
executed; designed by noted local architect and mason, Edward F. Neild, the building
expressed the Beaux Arts style with its cornerstone laid in 1915; the cornerstone has an
atypical setting in the northwest corner of the site to facilitate greater visibility by the public;
and
WHEREAS, at a final cost of $186,500, its dedication ceremony was held on
November 12, 1917, amid great fanfare, and the occasion was feted with dances and music
recitals accompanied by two pipe organs that are still operational today; the cathedral
Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 3 ENROLLED
remains a majestic architectural wonder that was listed on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1986; and
WHEREAS, the following officers were elected to serve as the first official family
of the L. C. Allen Lodge of Perfection: E. R. Bernstein, Venerable Master; L. E. Thomas,
Senior Warden; T. B. Chase, Junior Warden; David B. Samuel, Secretary; A. T. Kahn,
Treasurer; A. W. Cheesman, Almoner; E. Kirby Smith, Orator; and W. H. Booth, Master of
Ceremonies; and
WHEREAS, Freemasonic beliefs are grounded in the fatherhood of God, the
brotherhood of man, the immortality of the soul, and the steadfastness of one's accepted
faith; and
WHEREAS, the Scottish Rite is a fraternity whose members are drawn from
Freemasons and whose integrity and good character are paramount in daily life without the
stigma of prejudice to race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or nationality and whose duty
is to foster and promote the intangible values of trust, morality, and justice; and
WHEREAS, the Scottish Rite Cathedral is one of the most historic and
architecturally beautiful buildings in the south; its appointments include a three-tiered
auditorium, a marble lobby, a pair of marble staircases, banquet hall, DeMolay room,
masonic library, and classrooms for speech therapy; it is the oldest building in downtown
Shreveport that has never changed ownership; and
WHEREAS, the cathedral has both modern amenities and well-preserved historic
applications; among these classic appointments are ninety-two original, hand-painted
background scenes or drops that are utilized on stage during degree presentations to convey
masonic symbolism; these drops are enhanced by a wardrobe of pristine original costumes;
and
WHEREAS, the Shreveport Scottish Rite Cathedral facilitates the needs of the
community as a reception hall for weddings, musical performances, banquets, and black tie
events; it has even been used as an authentic period movie set for the film industry; and
WHEREAS, the Shreveport Scottish Rite Valley provides opportunities to expand
masonic knowledge and education, to contribute to the improvement of families and
communities, to encourage productive citizenship, and to improve the lives of children
Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 3 ENROLLED
through its various charities, such as RiteCare Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center;
along with its founders, Shreveport Scottish Rite Valley assisted in the establishment of
Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Shreveport, the first of its kind in North America;
and
WHEREAS, in anticipation of its next one hundred years of continued service to the
community and to Freemasonry, the Shreveport Scottish Rite Valley will ensconce a time
capsule that shall contain programs, lapel pins, coins, and memorabilia to be unearthed in
another century.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
congratulate the Shreveport Scottish Rite Valley on the occasion of the one hundredth
anniversary of the establishment of its Shreveport Scottish Rite Cathedral and does hereby
commend its status as a historic landmark and as a source of great pride in the community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Gary Gribble, secretary of the Shreveport Scottish Rite Temple.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 3 of 3